What is new is the involvement of the Russian foreign ministry after the fact, arguing against election observation missions sparking demonstrations. Is this an indication that Russia may interfere, perhaps militarily, in Kyrgystan? I'd be surprised. The Russian army, particularly in that neighborhood of Central Asia, likely isn't prepared to manage daily drills, let alone invade a neighboring country.

But the stakes are without doubt getting higher. The developments in Ukraine and Georgia have made Russia look weak. Russian authorities are trying to play to a Russian audience that increasingly sees its government on the wrong side of geopolitical tectonic plate shifting.

Kyrgyzstan, which was once thought to be the most liberal of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, has been rocked by a series of protests since two rounds of parliamentary elections left opposition parties with just a handful of seats.

They allege that the voting was rigged and that Mr Akayev intends to change the law so that he can extend his term of office.

But Mr Akayev hit back yesterday, ridiculing the failure of the opposition to present a united front.